Bending tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for bending rods and the like having a frame, a mandrel mounted in the frame and adapted to be positioned in contact with such a rod, a pair of cooperative grasping latches mounted in the frame and operable to secure the rod in contact with the mandrel, a pair of juxtaposed guide rails provided in the frame on opposite sides of the mandrel, a pair of arms mounted in the rails for reciprocal movement toward and from the mandrel for controlled spaced adjustment by said movement, a forming member having separable portions individually mounted on the arms, said portions being adapted to pass on opposite sides of the rod held by the latches in movement of the arms from the mandrel and being brought together and engaged with the rod in movement of the arms toward the mandrel, and a ram operatively interconnecting the arms and the latches.

United States Patent 1 Molnar Jan. 22, 1974 BENDING TOOL Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham 7 Assistant ExaminerM. J. Keenan [75] Inventor: Michael J. Molnar, Selma, Calif. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Huebner & Worrel [73] Assignee: ABC Bending Enterprises, Fresno,

m [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed; 25, 1972 A tool for bending rods and the like having a frame, a

mandrel mounted in the frame and adapted to be posi- PP 229,313 tioned in contact with such a rod, a pair of cooperative grasping latches mounted in the frame and opera- 52 U.S. Cl 72/220, 72/312, 72/386 hle Secure the rod in Contact with the mandrel, a 51 Int. Cl B21d 7/02 P juxtaposed guide tails Provided the frame [58] Field of Search 72/210 214, 220, 297 312, opposite sides of the mandrel, a pair of arms mounted 72/315, 386 in the rails for reciprocal movement toward and from the mandrel for controlled spaced adjustment by said 2 .2 movement, a forming member having separable por- References Cited tions individually mounted on the arms, said portions UNITED STATES PATENTS being adapted to pass on opposite sides of the rod held 3,466,914 9/1969 Gilchrist 72 214 by the latches in movement the arms from the 2,036,745 4/1936 Diem 72/220 drel and being brought together and engaged with the 9 4 550 934 Abramson et 1 72/3 9 rod in movement of the arms toward the mandrel, and 3,429,157 2/1969 l-luth 72/389 a ram operatively interconnecting the arms and the 3,557,586 l/l97l Zmuda 72/22 latches.

II n

lllllL 14 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAK 22 1914 3; 786.663

sum 1 [1F 6 BENDING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bending tool and more particularly to such a tool which permits in situ bending of steel reinforcing rods at construction sites thereby appreciably diminishing the time heretofore involved in such operations and improving the resultant product.

The prior art patents such as the Diehl U.S. Pat. No. 2,036,745; the Fader, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 2,228,448; the Oyen US. Pat. No. 2,722,858 and the Gilchrist U.S. Pat. No. 3,466,914 relate primarily to bending machines for permanent use in machine shops. The present invention is believed to be patentable over such prior art.

In constructionwork, particularly where concrete is used, steel reinforcing rods are commonly employed so as to improve the strength of the structure. This is particularly true where the structure may be subject to earthquake damage, in members subject to tension, at the junctures of members which may tend to have relative movement, and at other positions subject to excessive stress. Where concrete is the medium of construc tion, the rods are buried in the poured concrete within construction forms. The ends of the rods are left protruding from'the concrete for attachment to associated floors, walls, ceilings and the like subsequently to be poured.

Attachment of reinforcing rods of individually poured slabs, members or other units is frequently at right angles as, for example, where a floor is poured on a foundation or supporting wall, where a gutter or slab is poured along a curb and in similar circumstances. It is thus frequently required that the protruding ends of the rods must be bent 90 and welded or otherwise secured to the reinforcing rods of the associated unit prior to pouring of the concrete for that unit.

In the past, such bending of the ends ofthe-rods has been a laborious and quite time consuming operation particularly at large construction sites. The task has been performed conventionally in one of two ways. A conventional pipe bending tool is often employed which-requires significant effort by way of pressure exerted on a lever arm to bend the rod. More frequently and particularly with heavier rods, a sledge hammer is used to beat each rod into the desired configuration. Both methods are laborious, time consuming and imprecise, thereby increasing the cost of construction and limiting the uniformity of result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bending tool which facilitates the bending of reinforcing rods in construction work.

Another object is to provide such a bending tool which is operable automatically and instantaneously to bend reinforcing rods with a minimum of manual exertion.

Another object is to provide such a bending tool which achieves precise and uniform bending of reinforcing rods.

Another object is to provide such a bending tool which instantaneously performs the bending operation without damaging the strength of the rod.

Another object is to provide such a bending too which is of extremely durable construction so as to permit use in large construction sites on a frequent and dependable basis.

Another object is to provide such a bending tool which is of lightweight so as to facilitate use.

A further object is to provide such a bending tool which is safe to employ so as to minimize injury to the operators and structures being built.

A still further object is to provide such a bending tool which possesses sufficient power readily to bend rods of substantial size and strength.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device for the purposes described which is dependable, economical, durable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the bending tool of the first embodiment of the present invention positioned for use in the bending of a reinforcing rod at a construction site.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bending tool with a portion thereof broken away to expose a bending carriage thereof disposed in a work object recieving position.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the bending tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bending tool showing the bending carriage disposed in a work object bending position.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the bending tool as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken at the position represented by line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken at the position represented by line 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken at the position represented by line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section of the bending tool of a second embodiment of the invention showing a bending carriage thereof disposed in a workobject receiving position.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of the bending tool of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the bending tool of FIG. 9 showing the bending carriage in a partially retracted position.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the bending tool of FIG. 9 showing the grasping mechanism in a work object receiving position.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the bending tool of FIG. 9 showing the grasping mechanism in a grasping position.

FIG. 14 is a front elevation of the bending tool of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 16 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the latch assembly of the bending tool of FIG. 9.

FIG. 17 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken at the position represented by line l7-l7 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bending tool of FIG. 9 showing the latch assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a bending tool of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10. The bending tool is shown in FIG. 1 in its operational environment rested on a form 11 having an upper surface 12. Shown in FIG. 1 is a previously formed concrete wall 13 having an upper end 14. Reinforcing rods 15, having upwardly protruding ends 16, are embedded in the concrete wall.

The bending tool has a fiat base plate 22 having a front end 23, a rear end 24 and opposite sides 25. A notch 26 is provided in the front end of the base plate and extends longitudinally therein centrally of the front end a relatively short distance, as best shown in FIG. 8. A plurality of countersunk bores 27 are provided adjacent to the opposite sides of the plate from the front end to the rear end thereof.

A frame or housing 35 having an interior 36 is mounted on the base plate 22 in covering relation thereto. The housing has a forward portion 37 and a rearward portion 38. The housing consists of a pair of side walls 39 mounted on the base plate in juxtaposed position extending upwardly therefrom, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each side wall has a flange 40 extending from the front end to the rear end of the base plate in covering relation to the bores 27. The flanges 40 afford bores 41 in precise alignment with the bores 27 of the base plate. The side walls are secured to the base plate by bolts 42 extending through the bores 27 and 41 and having nuts 43 threadably secured on the upwardly extending ends of the bolts.

The forward portions 37 of the side walls 39 are angularly deformed so as to form a box 48 with the plate 22. The box defines a compartment 49 therein. The upwardly extending ends of the side walls are inwardly bent to form juxtaposed support ledges 50 defining a slot 5] therebetween running from the forward portion to the rearward portion 38 of the housing 35. An end wall 52 is secured by any suitable means, such as welding, between the side walls in the rearward portion of the housing, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. A pair of guide rails 53 which are channel shaped in cross section and which have forward portions 54 are weldably secured on the support ledges of the side walls. The rails define tracks 55 therein. The rails are disposed in parallel, spaced relation so as to define a slot 56 running therebetween. The forward portions of the rails extend forwardly of the front end 23 of the plate 22. A cover housing 57 is mounted on the guide rails adjacent to the forward portions thereof in a predetermined position in covering relation to the slot, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

A pair of aligned bearings 65 are individually secured, as by welding, in the interior 36 of the housing 35 on the side walls 39 in predetermined positions adjacent to the forward portion 37 of the housing. A shaft 66 is rotatably received in the bearings and extends therebetween. A mandrel 67 having a circumscribing groove 68 is secured on the shaft between the bearings for rotational movement, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

A grasping mechanism 75 is mounted in the compartment 49 of the box 48 in alignment with the notch 26 therebelow and the mandrel 67 thereabove. A pair of pivot studs 76 are mounted in predetermined spaced relation from the notch 26 and extend upwardly from the plate 22 within the compartment 49, as best shown in FIG. 8. A pair of grasping latches 77 are individually pivotally mounted on the studs within the compartment. The latches have arcuate arms 78 which are pivotal on the studs between a receiving position, shown best in FIG. 2, and a grasping position, shown best in FIG. 8, relative to the notch. A linkage 79 is operatively connected to the latches so as to permit cooperative pivotal movement of the latches about the studs for positioning of the arms in the positions described.

A bending carriage is slidably positioned in the tracks 55 of the guide rails 53. The bending carriage has resilient arms 86 having return-bent outer ends 87 and inner ends 88. A connecting block 89 interconnects the inner ends of the arms, as best shown in FIG. 2. A guide member 90 extends from the connecting block through the slots 51 and 56 into the housing 35 adjacent to the plate 22. The guide member has a pivotal connection 91 at its remote, downwardly extending end.

A bearing 96 is mounted between the arms 86 adjacent to the connecting block 89. A pair of bores 97 are individually provided in the arms in axial alignment and communicate with the bearing. An axle 98 is rotationally received in the bearing and extends through the bores of the arms. A pair of support wheels 99 are individually mounted on the opposite ends of the axle in the tracks 55 of the guide rails 53. A pair of shafts 100 are individually affixed in the return-bent outer ends 87 of the arms 86 in predetermined positions in axial alignment and have inwardly extended adjacent ends 101 as best shown in FIG. 2. A pair of support wheels I02 are individually rotationally received about each of the shafts in the return-bent outer ends and within the tracks.

A pair of shafts are individually mounted in the return-bent outer ends 87 of the arms 86 outwardly of the support wheels 102 and normal to the axis defined by the shafts 100. A pair of control wheels 11 I are individually mounted for rotational movement on the opposite ends of each shaft 110, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bending carriage 85, so described, is slid ably positionable in the tracks 55 between a work object receiving position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in which the control wheels are extended out the forward portions 54 of the guide rails, and a work object bending position, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the control wheels are received within the tracks. A bending of forming member or roller 112 is rotationally received on the adjacent ends 101 of the pair of shafts 100 and has a concave peripheral surface 113. The forming member is composed of identical opposite halves 114 individually received on the adjacent ends of the shafts.

A pair of spring mounts are mounted on the arms 86 intermediate the support wheels 99 and 102. A compression spring 121 is received about the spring mounts under compression so as to urge the arms away from each other. When the bending carriage 85 is in the work object receiving position, shown in FIG. 2, the compression spring urges the arms apart as permitted by the control wheels no longer being engaged in the tracks, thereby separating the opposite halves N4 of the forming member 112, as shown. When the bending carriage is moved to the work object beinding position, the control wheels are received in the tracks so as to compress the spring and to force the opposite halves of theforming member together, as shown in FIG. 4.

A conventional ram, which may be either of the hydraulic or pneumatic variety and having a piston rod 128 and a pivotal mount 129, operatively interconnects the linkage 79 of the grasping mechanism 75 with the guide member 90. The pivotal mount is attached to the pivotal connection 91 of the guide member. The piston rod has a bracket 130 provided at its distal end which is operatively connected to the linkage of the grasping mechanism. The ram has a pair of hoses 131 connected thereto in operable association with a supply of hydraulic fluid or gas under pressure and a conventional control system, not shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT in a concrete structure 213.

The bending tool 210 has a housing 235 defining an interior 236. The housing has a forward portion 237 and a rearward portion 238. The housing further provides opposite side walls 239 and has a top wall 240 providing a bracket 241 extending upwardly therefrom for attachment to a means of conveyance, not shown.

A top plate 250 and a bottom plate 251 are secured,

. as by welding, in the forward portion 237 of the housing 235 in parallel, spaced relation, as best shown in FIG. 10. A pair of mounting brackets 252 extend upwardly from the top plate for attachment to a means of conveyance, not shown. A notch 253 is provided in the bottom plate, as best shown in FIG. 12. A mandrel 254 having a circumscribing groove 255 is mounted in pre cise, longitudinal alignment with the notch on the bottom plate extending into the interior of the housing. A recess 256 having a cover housing 257 thereover is provided in the top plate in vertical alignment with the notch of the bottom plate.

A grasping mechanism 275 is mounted on the bottom plate 251 of the housing 235 adjacent to the mandrel 254. The mechanism includes apair of pivot studs 276 mounted on the bottom plate on opposite sides of the mandrel and extending upwardly into the interior 236. A pair of grasping latches 277 are individually rotatably received on the studs. A pair of spring pins 278 are mounted on the bottom plate forwardly and outwardly from the studs. A pair of tension springs 279 individually interconnect each of the pins with its adjacent latch so as to tend to force the latches cooperatively into a work object receiving position shown in FIG. 12. A pair of guides 280 are mounted in predetermined spaced relation on the bottom plate, as best shown in FIGS. l0, l2 and 13. A cam ram 281 having forwardly facing cam surfaces 282 is slidably received between the guides so that it is positionable between the limits shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 with the cam surfaces in continual contact with the latches.

A cover plate 290 having an extended notch 291 provided therein is mounted in covering relation to the grasping mechanism 275 with the mandrel 254 extending through a portion of the notch, as best shown in FIGS. and 14. The top plate 250 and the cover plate 290 each afford a pair of rearwardly convergent arcuate cam ways 292. The cam ways of the top plate are in precise vertical alignment with the cam ways of the cover plate.

A pair of channel members 300 having interiors 301 are slidably received in the housing 235 between the top plate 250 and the cover plate 290. The channel members have cam followers 302 which are individually slidably received in the cam ways 292 of the top plate and cover plate, as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The channel members are rearwardly interlocked for pivotal movement by upper pivotal linkage 303 and lower pivotal linkage 304, as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 15. Each of the channel members has a pair of juxtaposed rails 305 longitudinally mounted therein and defining a longitudinal path of travel through the members,'as best shown in FIGS. 10 and 14.

A bending carriage 385, having rigid arms 386 providing outer ends 287 and inner ends 388, is mounted for longitudinal movement on the rails 305 of the channel members 300. The inner ends of the arms are interconnected bya pivotal linkage 389. Extending rearwardly of the linkage is an integral attachment bracket 390.

Three adjustable guide wheels 410 having V-shaped peripheries 411 are mounted in spaced relation for rotational movement on each of the arms 386 in adjacent transverse alignment with the guide wheels of the other arm. The V-shaped periphery of each wheel engages both of the rails 305 of each channel member 300. A forming member or roller 4I2 is rotationally mounted between the outer ends 387 of the arms in transverse alignment with the outer pair of transversely aligned guide wheels, as best shown in FIG. 11. The forming member has a circumscribing groove 413 and is composed of identical opposite halves 414, each of which is individually attached to one of the arms.

The channel members 300 and a bending carriage 385 are releasably interconnected by a latch assembly 420 mounted in the interior 301 of one of the channel members adjacent to the linkages 303 and 304 and the inner ends 388 of the arms 386. The latch assembly includes a mount 421 weldably secured in the channel member having the latch assembly. A cam arm 422 having a cam roller 423 rotatably provided at its distal end is rotationally received on the mount. A spring 424 urges the arm and its roller outwardly for engagement with the inner end 388 of the adjacent arm of the bending carriage. A spring extended plunger assembly 425 having a cam member 426 at its distal end is mounted above the mount of the latch assembly, as best shown in FIG. 17. The plunger assembly is mounted so that the cam member normally contacts the cam roller 423 of the latch assembly so as to maintain the roller in engagement with the inner end of the adjacent arm of the bending carriage. A release pin 427 is weldably secured in the interior 236 of the housing 235 and in spaced relation to the cam member of the plunger assembly when the bending carriage is disposed in the work object receiving position of FIG. 9.

A stop assembly 435 interconnects the bending carriage 385 and the channel members 300 when they are disposed in the positions shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The stopassembly includes a pin 436 mounted on and extending downwardly from the channel member opposite that having the latch assembly 420 in a predetermined position adjacent to the upper pivotal linkage 303 of the channel members. The stop assembly further includes a block 437 mounted on the arm 386 in a predetermined position adjacent to the inner end 388 of the arm. The pin and the block are engaged between the positions of the bending carriage shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.

A bearing unit 443 is mounted in the interior 236 of the housing 235 in the rearward portion 238 thereof. A drive arm 444 is mounted for reciprocal movement in the bearing unit and is connected at one of its ends to the attachment bracket 390 of the bending carriage 385 by pivotal connection 445. The arm has a bracket 446 provided at the other of its ends. A conventional ram 447 is connected to the cam arm 281 by pivotal connection 448. The ram affords a piston rod 449 which is connected to the bracket 446 of the drive arm by pivotal connection 450.

OPERATION The operation of both embodiments of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. When it is desired to bend the protruding ends 16 of reinforcing rods 15, the bending tool 10 is positioned in resting relation on the upper surface 12 of forms 11 or any other suitable support adjacent to the protruding ends of the rods, as best shown in FIG. 1. The ram 127 is then actuated by the control means, not shown, to contract the piston rod 128 thereby extending the bending carriage 85 and associated forming member 112 to a work object receiving position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Since the control wheels 111 are extended outwardly of the guide rails 53, the compression spring 121 urges the arms 86 apart, thereby separating the opposite halves 114 of the forming member. Contraction of the power arm of the ram simultaneously operates the grasping mechanism 75 to pivot the grasping latches 77 about the pivot studs 76 so as to motivate the arcuate arms 78 thereof into a receiving position, best shown in FIG. 2. In this configuration, the bending tool 10 is positioned over the protruding end 16 of a reinforcing rod to be bent. The protruding end of the rod is received fully in the notch 26 against the groove 68 of the mandrel 67. The ram 127 is thereafter actuated to extend the piston rod 128. Extension of the rod operates the grasping mechanism 75 to retract the arcuate arms 78 of the latches 77 to grasp the protruding end of the rod against the mandrel. Simultaneously, the bending carriage 85 is retracted along the tracks 55 of the guide rails 53 toward the work object bending position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Such retraction causes the control wheels 111 to be drawn within the tracks, thereby forcing the arms 86 toward each other against the compression of the spring 121 and joining the opposite halves 114 of the forming member 112. So joined, the groove 113 of the forming member contacts the protruding end of the rod and bends the end about the mandrel into a configuration shown in FIG. 5.

The bending tool 10 is thereafter released from the rod 15 by actuation of the ram 127 again to contract the piston rod 128 to as to motivate the bending carriage 85 to a work object receiving position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bending tool is thereafter simply drawn off of the rod and moved to the next rod for a subsequent performance of the bending operation.

The operation of the bending tool 210 of the second embodiment of the invention is substantially as above described in regard to the bending tool 10 of the first embodiment. The ram 447 is actuated to contract the piston rod 449 thereof so as to position the latches 227 of the grasping mechanism 275 in the work object receiving position shown in FIG. 12. Simultaneously, the channel members 300 with the bending carriage 385 disposed therein, are moved to a work object receiving position, as best shown in FIG. 9. The block 437 of the stop assembly 435 which is mounted on the carriage engages the pin of the channel member so that the members are moved forward with the carriage. Forward motivation of the drive arm 444 against the attachment bracket 390 of the pivotal linkage 388 causes the channel members to be moved forwardly. The cam followers 302 are thereby traveled along the cam ways 292 causing continued separation of the channel members until forward movement is terminated when the channel members reach the position shown in FIG. 9.

When so disposed, the bending tool 210 is moved by hand or any suitable means of conveyance, not shown, to a position in which the protruding end 212 of a reinforcing rod 211 is received against the groove 255 of the mandrel 254, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. As with the bending tool 10, the ram 447 is then actuated to extend the piston rod 449 thereof so as to retract the bending carriage and connected channel members 300. The cam followers 302 are thereby caused to follow the cam ways 292 until the channel members are drawn together and the opposite halves 414 of the forming member 412 are united, as shown in FIG. 11. The latch assembly 420 maintains the members in position about the carriage during such movement by virtue of the cam roller 423 being retained in contact with the inner end 388 of the adjacent arm 386 of the carriage.

Just prior to the carriage 385 reaching the position shown in FIG. 11, the release pin 427 contacts the cam member 426 of the plunger assembly 425. As movement of the carriage is continued, the pin forces the cam member out of engagement with the cam roller 423. Continued rearward movement of the carriage causes the roller to disengage from the inner end 388 of the adjacent arm 386. Simultaneously, the cam followers 302 reach the rearwardmost points of the cam ways 292 so as to terminate rearward movement of the channel members. The carriage is there-after drawn along the rails 305 of the channel members. Continued rearward movement of the carriage causes the forming member to contact the protruding end 212 of the rod 211 and bend it about the mandrel 254.

After the performance of such bending, the ram 447 is again actuated to contract the piston rod 449 thereof so as again to operate the grasping mechanism 275 to move the latches 277 thereof to the receiving position shown in FIG. 12. Simultaneously, the carriage 385 is motivated along the rails 305 of the channel members 300 until the block 437 contacts the pin 436 of the stop assembly 435 so as to initiate movement of the channel members 300 outwardly of the housing 235. Such movement is continued until the channel members are again disposed in the work object receiving position shown in FIG. 9. During such forward movement, the cam member 426 of the plunger assembly 425 is drawn out of contact with the release pin 427 so that the cam roller 423 is again moved by the roller and spring 424 to a position in contact with the inner end 388 of the adjacent arm 386.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention, the bending carriages 85 and 385 and the grasping mechanisms 75 and 275 are operated quite rapidly and automatically so that the bending operation is both expeditiously and uniformly performed. The circumferences of the forming member 112 and 4l2 and the shapes of the mandrels 67 and 254 are such that bending of a reinforcing rod is performed evenly without impairing the strength of the rod. The cover housing 57 and 257 of both forms of the invention perform the function of protecting the operator from injury by the protruding end of the rod during bending of the rod.

The bending tool of the first form of the invention is usually, but not necessarily, intended for use in the bending of comparatively small rods. As such, it is usually of comparatively lightweight although sturdy construction to permit manual positioning of the tool relative to a rod to be bent. Conversely, the bending tool 210 of the second form of the invention is usually, but not necessarily, intended for the bending of a wide variety of strengths and sizes of reinforcement rods. Consequently, it is of comparatively heavy construction making it desirable to support the tool in a means of conveyance, not shown, for positioning.

The bending tools 10 and 210 of the present invention therefore provide a safe, inexpensive, uniform and quite rapid means for bending reinforcing rods in situ with a minimum of manual effort. Both bending tools are of durable construction, thereby insuring dependable operation for long operational lives.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tool bending the extended end of a rod anchored in fixed position comprising a frame; a roller; means engageable with the rod to retain the frame in fixed relation to the rod; means mounting the roller in the frame forreciprocal movement transversely of the rod, the roller having separable portions; and control means uniting the portions of the roller in movement in one direction transversely of the rod, and separating the portions for passage on opposite sides of the rod in movement in the opposite direction.

2. A bending tool comprising a mandrel having a rod receiving groove; a forming roller having a circumscribing rod receiving groove; said roller having axially aligned portions separable along a plane coincident with said circumscribing groove; powered means mounting the roller for reciprocal movement. in said plane with said plane coincident with the groove of the mandrel between a rod bending position adjacent to the mandrel and a rod receiving position remote from the mandrel; and control means adapted to separate the positions of the roller as it is moved from bending position to receiving position to receive a rod therebetween for engagement with the mandrel and to bring the portions together as the roller is moved from receiving position to bending position to form such rod over the mandrel.

3. The bending tool of claim 2 having a releasable latch operable to secure the rod against the mandrel,

and means operably connected to the powered means to the latch to secure the rod against the mandrel as the roller moves from receiving position toward bending position and to release the rod from the mandrel as the roller moves from bending position toward releasing position.

4. The bending tool of claim 2 in which the control means comprises a pair of tracks disposed on opposite sides of the mandrel, and followers individually disposed in the tracks and individually mounting the portions of the roller.

5. The bending tool of claim 4 in which the followers comprise a pair of arms, the tracks are juxtaposed, and resilient means is disposed between the arms under compression to urge the arms outwardly into track engagement.

6. A tool for bending the extended end of a reinforcing rod embedded in concrete with said end extended from the concrete comprising a mandrel having a groove adapted to fit against the side of the rod adjacent to the concrete; a forming roller having a peripheral groove, said roller having axially aligned portions separable along a plane coincident with said groove; powered means mounting the roller for reciprocal movement in said plane with said plane coincident with the groove of the mandrel and the rod, between a rod bending position adjacent to the mandrel and opposite thereto from the concrete and a rod receiving position remote from the mandrel; and control means adapted to separate the portions of the roller as it is moved from bending position to receiving position to receive a rod therebetween for engagement with the mandrel and to bring the portions together as the roller is moved from receiving position to bending position to engage the groove of the roller with the side of the rod opposite to the mandrel and to form such rod over the mandrel.

7. A tool for bending a rod comprising a frame; a mandrel mounted in the frame and adapted to be positioned in contact with the rod; a pair of cooperative grasping latches mounted in the frame and operable to secure the rod in contact with the mandrel; a pair of opposed guide rails mounted on the frame on opposite sides of the mandrel; a pair of arms individually slidably mounted in the rails; a forming member mounted on the arms composed of separable portions individually mounted in juxtaposition on the arms; and power means operatively interconnecting the arms and the latches for reciprocably positioning the arms on the rails to move the forming member toward and from the mandrel, to actuate the latches when the forming memher is moved toward the mandrel and to release the latches when the forming member is moved from the mandrel, and the portions adapted to be spaced when the arms are moved from the mandrel to permit the passage of such a rod therebetween and to be joined when the portions are moved toward the mandrel.

8. A tool for bending a rod comprising a housing, a mandrel mounted in the housing, a grasping mechanism mounted in operable association with the mandrel, a pair of pivotally interconnectd channel members mounted in the housing adjacent to the mandrel, a bending carriage slidably mounted in the channel members, a forming member mounted in the carriage, and power means operatively interconnecting the grasping mechanism and the carriage and operable to actuate the mechanism to secure the rod to the mandrel and simultaneously to draw the forming member against the rod so as to bend it about the mandrel.

9. The bending tool of claim 8 in which the forming member is composed of separable portions and the channel members are slidable in the housing with the carriage between a work object receiving position and a position in which the portions of the forming member are joined.

10. The bending tool of claim 9 in which a latch assembly interconnects the channel members and the carriage for unitary movement between the receiving position and the position in which the portions of the forming member are joined and the assembly is operable to disengage the carriage from the channel members for movement to a work object bending position.

ll. The bending tool of claim 10 in which the carriage includes pivotally interconnected arms slidably mounted in the channel members havingdistal ends individually mounting said portions of the forming memher, said channel members pivotally positioning the arms as they are moved therealong to move the portions to and from each other.

12. The bending tool of claim 11 in which cam ways are provided in the housing for simultaneous separation of the channel members and the arms of the carriage during movement of the channel members to the receiving position.

13. A bending tool comprising a bending carriage having a pair ofjuxtaposed arms; a work object engaging mandrel; frame means mounting themandrel in fixed position and mounting the carriage for movement transversely of a work object engaged by the mandrel; a work object bending member borne by the carriage, the bending member having separable portions, each portion being individually borne by one of said arms and the arms being adapted to be urged toward each other to join said portions during movement transversely ofa work object; means for grasping a work object in engagement with the mandrel; and power means interconnecting the grasping means and the bending carriage for operating the grasping means simultaneously with impelling the carriage transversely of a work object engaged by the mandrel.

14.- A tool comprising a mandrel, a grasping mechanism, a frame mounting the mandrel and grasping mechanism in workpiece engaging alignment, a pair of pivotally interconnected channel members borne by the frame adjacent to the mandrel, a bending carriage slidably mounted in the channel members, a forming member mounted in the carriage, and power means operatively interconnecting the grasping mechanism and the carriage and operable to actuate the mechanism to secure the workpiece to the mandrel and simultaneously to draw the forming member against the workpiece so as to bend said workpiece about the mandrel. =l

, 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 663 A Dated January 22 1974 ]:-nventor(s) Michael. J M01118! It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 4, line 51, after "ing" and before "forming" A delete "of" and insert -or-.

Col. 7, line 62, after "128" and before "as" I delete "to" and insert --'so---. Col. 8, line 3 after "latches" delete "227" and insert -2 7 7---. V A

Col. 8, line 46, after "is" and before "drawn" delete"there-after" and insert ------thereafter----. 7

Col. 9, line 61, after "the" and before "of" delete "positions" and insert --portions- Col. 10, lines 1 and 2, after "means" and before "to" insert -and---.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of May 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. I C MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM V uscoMM-oc we're-Pea 1 1-5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 2 19? 0-355-33L 

1. A tool bending the extended end of a rod anchored in fixed position comprising a frame; a roller; means engageable with the rod to retain the frame in fixed relation to the rod; means mounting the roller in the frame for reciprocal movement transversely of the rod, the roller having separable portions; and control means uniting the portions of the roller in movement in one direction transversely of the rod, and separating the portions for passage on opposite sides of the rod in movement in the opposite direction.
 2. A bending tool comprising a mandrel having a rod receiving groove; a forming roller having a circumscribing rod receiving groove; said roller having axially aligned portions separable along a plane coincident with said circumscribing groove; powered means mounting the roller for reciprocal movement in said plane with said plane coincident with the groove of the mandrel between a rod bending position adjacent to the mandrel and a rod receiving position remote from the mandrel; and control means adapted to separate the positions of the roller as it is moved from bending position to receiving position to receive a rod therebetween for engagement with the mandrel and to bring the portions together as the roller is moved from receiving position to bending position to form such rod over the mandrel.
 3. The bending tool of claim 2 having a releasable latch operable to secure the rod against the mandrel, and means operably connected to the powered means to the latch to secure the rod against the mandrel as the roller moves from receiving position toward bending position and to release the rod from the mandrel as the roller moves from bending position toward releasing position.
 4. The bending tool of claim 2 in which the control means comprises a pair of tracks disposed on opposite sides of the mandrel, and followers individually disposed in the tracks and individually mounting the portions of the roller.
 5. The bending tool of claiM 4 in which the followers comprise a pair of arms, the tracks are juxtaposed, and resilient means is disposed between the arms under compression to urge the arms outwardly into track engagement.
 6. A tool for bending the extended end of a reinforcing rod embedded in concrete with said end extended from the concrete comprising a mandrel having a groove adapted to fit against the side of the rod adjacent to the concrete; a forming roller having a peripheral groove, said roller having axially aligned portions separable along a plane coincident with said groove; powered means mounting the roller for reciprocal movement in said plane with said plane coincident with the groove of the mandrel and the rod, between a rod bending position adjacent to the mandrel and opposite thereto from the concrete and a rod receiving position remote from the mandrel; and control means adapted to separate the portions of the roller as it is moved from bending position to receiving position to receive a rod therebetween for engagement with the mandrel and to bring the portions together as the roller is moved from receiving position to bending position to engage the groove of the roller with the side of the rod opposite to the mandrel and to form such rod over the mandrel.
 7. A tool for bending a rod comprising a frame; a mandrel mounted in the frame and adapted to be positioned in contact with the rod; a pair of cooperative grasping latches mounted in the frame and operable to secure the rod in contact with the mandrel; a pair of opposed guide rails mounted on the frame on opposite sides of the mandrel; a pair of arms individually slidably mounted in the rails; a forming member mounted on the arms composed of separable portions individually mounted in juxtaposition on the arms; and power means operatively interconnecting the arms and the latches for reciprocably positioning the arms on the rails to move the forming member toward and from the mandrel, to actuate the latches when the forming member is moved toward the mandrel and to release the latches when the forming member is moved from the mandrel, and the portions adapted to be spaced when the arms are moved from the mandrel to permit the passage of such a rod therebetween and to be joined when the portions are moved toward the mandrel.
 8. A tool for bending a rod comprising a housing, a mandrel mounted in the housing, a grasping mechanism mounted in operable association with the mandrel, a pair of pivotally interconnectd channel members mounted in the housing adjacent to the mandrel, a bending carriage slidably mounted in the channel members, a forming member mounted in the carriage, and power means operatively interconnecting the grasping mechanism and the carriage and operable to actuate the mechanism to secure the rod to the mandrel and simultaneously to draw the forming member against the rod so as to bend it about the mandrel.
 9. The bending tool of claim 8 in which the forming member is composed of separable portions and the channel members are slidable in the housing with the carriage between a work object receiving position and a position in which the portions of the forming member are joined.
 10. The bending tool of claim 9 in which a latch assembly interconnects the channel members and the carriage for unitary movement between the receiving position and the position in which the portions of the forming member are joined and the assembly is operable to disengage the carriage from the channel members for movement to a work object bending position.
 11. The bending tool of claim 10 in which the carriage includes pivotally interconnected arms slidably mounted in the channel members having distal ends individually mounting said portions of the forming member, said channel members pivotally positioning the arms as they are moved therealong to move the portions to and from each other.
 12. The bending tool of claim 11 in which cam ways are provided in the housing for simultaneous separation of the channel members and the arMs of the carriage during movement of the channel members to the receiving position.
 13. A bending tool comprising a bending carriage having a pair of juxtaposed arms; a work object engaging mandrel; frame means mounting the mandrel in fixed position and mounting the carriage for movement transversely of a work object engaged by the mandrel; a work object bending member borne by the carriage, the bending member having separable portions, each portion being individually borne by one of said arms and the arms being adapted to be urged toward each other to join said portions during movement transversely of a work object; means for grasping a work object in engagement with the mandrel; and power means interconnecting the grasping means and the bending carriage for operating the grasping means simultaneously with impelling the carriage transversely of a work object engaged by the mandrel.
 14. A tool comprising a mandrel, a grasping mechanism, a frame mounting the mandrel and grasping mechanism in workpiece engaging alignment, a pair of pivotally interconnected channel members borne by the frame adjacent to the mandrel, a bending carriage slidably mounted in the channel members, a forming member mounted in the carriage, and power means operatively interconnecting the grasping mechanism and the carriage and operable to actuate the mechanism to secure the workpiece to the mandrel and simultaneously to draw the forming member against the workpiece so as to bend said workpiece about the mandrel. 